chrome_update.exe

Google Chrome

Air Software

Warning, this is not the legitimate setup program for Google Chrome. The setup is bootstrapped by the Air Installer 'download manager' (a pay-per-install monetization download manager) that bundles unwanted software (adware, toolbars, extensions) during setup while deciving the user into thinking they are downloading the stadard installation setup from Google Chrome. The application chrome_update.exe, “Google Chrome ” by Air Software has been detected as adware by 33 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the AirInstaller Download Manager installer. This program installs potentially unwanted software on your PC at the same time as the software you are trying to install, without adequate consent. With this installer, users are expecting to download Google's Chrome web browser but before that occurs they may be presented with additional offers, mostly potentially unwanted software or adware.
Publisher:
AirInstaller   (signed by Air Software)

Product:
Google Chrome

Description:
Google Chrome

Version:
2.0.4.60

MD5:
2b03dd66c73803bb0f1200deed58eee4

SHA-1:
6fc84de9a9480b340d30c0258a1d322c60fe930e

SHA-256:
12f0334234d3089f84a4b73eeb8fe13225133225e2a832e237e4750c9a299a37

Scanner detections:
33 / 68

Status:
Adware

Description:
This is also known as bundleware, or downloadware, which is an downloader designed to simply deliver ad-supported offers in the setup routine of an otherwise legitimate software.

Analysis date:
12/26/2024 3:30:41 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.4
487

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.AirAd
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
Adware/Win32.AirAdInstaller
15.10.06

Avira AntiVirus
ADWARE/Adware.Gen
7.11.138.122

avast!
Win32:Installer-L [PUP]
2014.9-151006

AVG
Adware Generic_r
2016.0.2965

Bitdefender
Application.Bundler.L
1.0.20.1395

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6267

Clam AntiVirus
Win.Adware.Airadinstaller-65
0.98/19328

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.AirAdInstaller.A
17979

Dr.Web
Trojan.SMSSend.4653
9.0.1.0279

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller
8.15.10.06.12

ESET NOD32
Win32/AirAdInstaller.A potentially unwanted application
9.7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/AirInstall.C.gen
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Riskware.Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler
11.2015-06-10_3

G Data
Win32.Adware.Airadinstaller
15.10.24

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.Airinstall
t3scan.2.2.29

K7 AntiVirus
Adware
13.176.11524

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.AirAdInstaller
14.0.0.1320

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.AirInstaller
v2015.10.06.12

McAfee
Trojan.Artemis!6FFD8BAAE04A
5600.6621

MicroWorld eScan
Application.Bundler.L
16.0.0.837

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.AirAdInstaller.cznxtr
0.28.0.60577

nProtect
Trojan-Clicker/W32.AirAdInstaller.824744
14.06.20.01

Panda Antivirus
Adware/AirInstaller
15.10.06.12

Qihoo 360 Security
Malware.QVM01.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Quick Heal
Adware.AirAdInstaller.C5
10.15.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Air Software.AirSoftware.Bundler (M)
15.10.6.0

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.Airinstall!1.9C4C
23.00.65.151004

Sophos
AirInstaller
4.98

Vba32 AntiVirus
AdWare.AirAdInstaller
3.12.24.3

VIPRE Antivirus
AirInstaller
27668

Zillya! Antivirus
Adware.AirAdInstaller.Win32.241
2.0.0.1847

File size:
816.4 KB (836,008 bytes)

Product version:
2.0.4.60

Copyright:
(c) AirInstaller

Original file name:
setup.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
AirInstaller Download Manager

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\chrome_update.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/24/2013 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2015 7:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Air Software, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Air Software, L=Victoria, S=British Columbia, C=CA

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)10, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
3AC786E09219DF82DA830E461D4FC39F

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
10/28/2013 12:14:04 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:3pfkL+1vdXMy2D7oROSIuYQ6iwKNHxtzQ:3pcCj8yKKOqYL+Ry

Entry address:
0x25D2A0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, B0, 59, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 60, E6, FF, 57, 83, CD, FF, EB, 10, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 8A, 06, 46, 88, 07, 47, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 72, ED, B8, 01, 00, 00, 00, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C0, 01, DB, 73, 0B, 75, 28, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 72, 1F, 48, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C0, EB, D4, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C9, EB, 52, 31, C9, 83, E8, 03, 72, 11, C1, E0, 08, 8A, 06, 46, 83, F0, FF, 74, 75, D1, F8, 89...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.8796

Packer / compiler:
UPX 2.90LZMA

Code size:
780 KB (798,720 bytes)

The file chrome_update.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

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